English secondary schools and the National Curriculum

The National Curriculum is split into four key stages (KS) taking children up to age 16, although full-time education is compulsory in England up to age 18. The Department for Education (DfE) uses these key stages to inform schools what they should be teaching and what outcomes they should aim for before pupils move on to the next key stage. 

The first two key stages fall under primary schools, the second two under secondary schools. KS3 covers years 7, 8 and 9, the first three years of secondary school. KS4 covers years 10 and 11, when students work towards GCSEs (General Certificate of Secondary Education). The sixth form years (years 12 and 13) are sometimes known as KS5 and most children study for A levels and/or BTECs. 

KS3 subjects: what do pupils study?

In KS3, children have to study 12 compulsory subjects – English, maths and science (known as the core subjects), plus computing, PE and citizenship (known as the foundation subjects). They also study history, geography, modern foreign languages (at least one), design and technology, art and music. 

KS4 subjects and GCSE options explained

In KS4, the core subjects of English, maths and science remain compulsory, with all students taking GCSEs in these subjects. For science, students can take single, double or triple science. Each route covers biology, chemistry and physics, but double science counts as two GCSEs and triple science as three. Typically, higher-attaining pupils are entered for triple science.

Schools must also provide relationships, sex and health education, as well as religious education. Again, students do not have to do qualifications in these subjects, and parents can request for their child not to study them at all.

Students choose additional GCSE subjects depending on what the school offers and its timetabling options (eg if drama is timetabled at the same time as Spanish, they can only take one). Many schools require students to choose at least one subject from arts (eg art and design, music, drama), design and technology (eg DT, graphics, cooking and nutrition), humanities (eg history, geography, RE) and modern foreign languages (eg French, German, Spanish). 

In addition, all students must be taught the foundation subjects of computing, PE and citizenship, but they do not have to take qualifications in these subjects. 

Schools must also provide relationships, sex and health education (RSHE), as well as religious education. Students do not usually take qualifications in these subjects. Parents can request to withdraw their child from some or all of sex education (but not relationships or health education), although this is subject to the policies of individual schools and their trusts.

How much PE do pupils have in secondary school?

PE remains compulsory for all pupils up to the end of KS4. As in primary school, the government advises 60 minutes of physical activity every day, with at least 30 minutes taking place during the school day and the remaining 30 minutes taking place outside school. There are set aims for what pupils should have achieved in terms of sporting techniques by the end of KS3 and KS4. In addition, PE is a GCSE option. 

Is music compulsory in KS3 and KS4?

Music remains compulsory up to the end of KS3, with schools expected to teach the subject in a carefully planned, sequenced way just like maths, English or science. Pupils can continue to study music in KS4 as a GCSE option. 

Is art and design compulsory?

Art and design is also taught up to the end of KS3, after which it is a GCSE option. 

Some private schools choose to follow the National Curriculum in these subjects, but many offer more time in each and with greater specialist teaching and breadth. Some offer pupils the opportunity to specialise earlier too, such as choosing music or art in year 9. 

Key Stage 3 SATs have been replaced by classroom assessment by teachers and frequent reporting to parents in years 7, 8 and 9.

At the end of KS4 (years 10 and 11), students take GCSEs. This qualification mainly involves studying the theory of a subject, together with some investigative work, while some subjects also involve practical work.

It is compulsory for students in England to remain in some kind of education until they are 18. This does not have to be full-time in school but could include part-time learning and training as well as an apprenticeship.

The majority of state secondary schools and practically all senior private schools have a sixth form, which covers years 12 and 13, offering a seamless transition through these school years. However, there are plenty of other further education options. 

By far the most common qualification studied in sixth form is A levels, but again there are alternatives such as BTECs (provided by some state and private schools) and the International Baccalaureate (mainly provided by private schools), among others. 

Private schools aren’t obliged to teach the National Curriculum (as with certain state schools like academies and free schools), although they do have to be registered with the government and inspected regularly. 

In reality, most private schools in England follow the National Curriculum or something very similar up to the end of KS3. 

In KS4, when official qualifications are introduced, private schools usually offer an enhanced version of the National Curriculum, which includes greater subject choice and/or IGCSEs (international GCSEs) instead of, or in addition to, GCSEs.

IGCSEs are similar to GCSEs but offer a more global context. For example, the geography GCSE uses UK maps, whereas the IGCSE may use maps of another country; an English GCSE focuses on well-known British writers like Shakespeare, whereas the IGCSE may focus on writers from other countries and cultures. They are offered in over 150 countries.